According to a recent report by art restorers from the Opificio delle Pietre Dure of Florence, the 14th century fresco cycle by Agnolo Gaddi, located in the Cappella Maggiore of the Church of Santa Croce, is showing serious signs of decay.
Although the decay may not be visible to the naked eye, according to the director of painting restoration at the Opificio, Cristina Danti, large portions of these frescoes currently risk being severely compromised if the restoration process currently underway is not completed successfully. Danti made these statements at a press conference last week that announced the initiation of a large restoration project in the Chapel.
With the help of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and the University of Kanazawa in Japan, an important restoration process has now begun on the “Leggenda della Vera Croce,” painted by Gaddi between 1380 and 1390.
The Church of Santa Croce has about 1 million visitors per year, reaching up to 6,000 in a single day. In order to maintain the number as well as the satisfaction of these visitors, plans are in the works to turn the restoration project into an attraction instead of a hindrance. Small groups of visitors will probably be able to get a close-up look at the lengthy and detailed restoration processes necessary to maintain these masterpieces. Interactive, multimedia guides will be available during the restoration process, and a website will offer regularly updated information on its progress.
